2009 Review

You gotta hand it to Santana, his consistent inconsistency is as consistent as it gets. Every year it’s the same thing with the guy, much to the dismay of his fantasy owners, although our guess is that the fantasy world has caught up to his dumbfounding ineptitude. Anyone who’s ever had him on their team knows that there are always those one or two games during the season when he goes off for an insane amount of fantasy points… and 2009 was no different. In Week 3 against the lowly Lions, Moss went off to the tune of 10 catches, 178 yards, a 57-yard touchdown, and probably won you the week if you started him. But no worries. The rest of the year he went back to normal as he compiled an average of 4 catches/game, 48.3 yards/game, and just 2 more total TDs over the other 15 games. Thus has become the pattern of Mr. Santana Moss, and so it shall ever be. Unless…

2010 Fantasy Outlook

For Moss to become a viable fantasy player again, the Redskins needed to go out and get him a good, established quarterback to get him the ball and a receiver or two to take the heat off of him. Well, one of those hopes was accomplished, as the ‘Skins did a great job in nabbing Donovan McNasty to head up their offense during this past offseason. However, with unproven 3rd-year WR Devin Thomas still acting as the WR2 and Malcolm Kelly still sitting at #3, defenses will have no problem shading an extra defender over into Moss’ zone as they have been, thus leaving him little chance to get open on a regular basis. Tight ends Chris Cooley and Fred Davis might open up the field a bit for Santana to roam, but likely not enough to make Santana a consistent force from week to week. His numbers should improve to the point of being a nice WR3 on your team, but don’t expect a repeat of his 2005 numbers and continue to pick your spots to play him.

~ McNabb is twice the QB Jason Campbell was, so Santana should be in line for an uptick in his numbers

~ Not having a stable WR2 on the team will keep him double-teamed until someone steps up

~ Having two very good tight ends on the field at the same time may enable Moss to find more room than in the past

~ Santana is playing for one last contract, so expect him to leave it all out on the field

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SANTANA "THE HEDGEHOG" MOSS

In 2001, Moss was drafted by the Jets with the 16th pick in the draft. If he was selected where the next receiver was taken 9 picks later instead of where he was, he would have been playing with none other than Donovan McNabb on the Philadelphia Eagles.

We expect these declining stats to make a quick turnaround now that fate has had it's way...

Like a case of Paris Hilton herpes, Moss tends to appear and disappear without warning

Contract

Santana enters the final season of what was originally a six-year deal worth $31 million that was signed back in 2005. At 31 years old, he may have enough left in the tank to squeeze out one final contract in his career, so expect Santana to play with some urgency in this season. The final three years you see below (2011-13) were part of a restructuring he and the team worked out mid-contract and are likely to be voided. The deal is outlined below:

Santana Moss turned 35 this month and has played 13 NFL seasons. The Washington Redskins made upgrades at his position this offseason by signing wide receivers DeSean Jackson and Andre Roberts as free agents.

But when it was suggested to Moss last week that he faces more competition than usual to secure a spot on the Redskins’ season-opening roster, he said the situation is nothing new from his perspective.

“I’ve never not had to go work for my job,” Moss said following an offseason practice at Redskins Park. “So at the end of the day, there’s always competition. Like you say, you all will rate where somebody’s at. I never did that. I went out here and worked. That’s why I’m able to be here today is because I’ve always showed instead of talked about it. So I’m gonna continue to do that. I’m gonna go out here and practice hard and put everything on tape and at the end of the day, you can judge on the tape.”

Pyro's take: Moss saw his fantasy value disappear with the signing of DeSean Jackson who will take over his main duties. Santana will be relegated to a reserve role, and is not worthy of a fantasy roster spot at this time.

Redskins wide receiver Santana Moss has been double-teamed constantly this year, and expects more of the same on Sunday. "They might double the crap out of me, too," Moss said of the Lions. "I always expect the worst but hope for the best. All I can do is continue to be the player I am. I can't really worry about what's going on."

Pyro's take: Coach Jim Zorn has made the effort to get him the ball, but he doesn't want to force it and turn the ball over. Until one of the younger guys steps up (Devin Thomas or Malcolm Kelly), expect this sort of situation to take place all year.

After catching just two passes for six yards in Week 1, Redskins wide receiver Santana Moss wants to be more involved in the offense going forward. "Sure, I'd like to have the ball a little earlier, once or twice here or there," he said, "and just that builds your morale, that builds your confidence you can just go out there and be a complete player the rest of the game."

Pyro's take: Moss has been up-and-down throughout his whole career, so we might be looking at one of those down years again from Santana in 2009. Considering all the double-teams he'll be seeing, he shouldn't be counted on as more than a WR3 for your fantasy squad this year.

Washington Redskins RB Clinton Portis and WR Santana Moss were held out of preseason play Thursday night.

Pyro's take: While Moss is dealing with a minor hamstring problem, Portis is completely healthy. Either way, it's not a surprise in the slightest to see the Redskins two best skill position players on the sideline for the opening game.

Washington Redskins WR Santana Moss just turned 30-years old in June, but that by no means he's over the hill. He was the bread and butter of the offense last year, and will be again this year, and Coach Jim Zorn has pointed out as well that Moss has "a full knowledge of the offense now, too."

Pyro's take: In real life, that's all fine and dandy for the Redskins, but in terms of fantasy, Moss is as inconsistent as they come. He'll continue to be a risky pick on draft day, so our advice is that if you're debating between Moss and someone else with your next pick, save yourself the headache and go with the other guy.

Redskins WR Santana Moss tweaked his hamstring practicing on a wet field and diving for a pass Thursday morning. It wasn't enough of a problem to worry head coach Jim Zorn, but it earned Moss a light afternoon practice just the same. "It's all right," is how Moss characterized the injury.

Pyro's take: Moss was the go-to guy all of last year, so every little tweak and every little boo-boo is a much bigger deal than if it were to happen to anyone else on the team. Zorn at least seems to know it.